نَأَتكَshe has gone far from you أُمامَةُUmamah إِلّاexcept for سُؤالاًan inquiry
نَأَتكَ أُمامَةُ إِلّا سُؤالاً
وَإِلّاand except for خَيالاًa phantom يُوافيcomes to meet خَيالاa phantom
وَإِلّا خَيالاً يُوافي خَيالا
Umamah has withdrawn from you, save for an inquiry,
Umma came to me with nothing but questions,
and save for a phantom that comes to meet a phantom.
And nothing but an imagination meeting imagination.
يُوافيarrives مَعwith اللَيلِthe night ميعادُهاher appointed meeting
يُوافي مَع اللَيلِ ميعادُها
وَيَأبىand refuses مَعَwith الصُبحِdawn إِلّاexcept زِيالاparting
وَيَأبى مَعَ الصُبحِ إِلّا زِيالا
Her appointed visit comes with the night,
Her tryst accompanies the night,
and at dawn will accept nothing but parting.
And with dawn, nothing remains but traces.
فَذَلِكَso, that تَبذُلُshe offers مِنof وُدِّهاher affection
فَذَلِكَ تَبذُلُ مِن وُدِّها
وَلَوand even if شَهِدَتshe were present لَمnot تُواتِshe would grant النَوالاa favor
وَلَو شَهِدَت لَم تُواتِ النَوالا
That is all she offers of her affection;
That is how she gives of her love,
even were she present, she would grant no favor.
And if she witnessed, she would not grant union.
وَقَدand indeed ريعَwas alarmed قَلبيmy heart إِذwhen أَعلَنواthey announced
وَقَد ريعَ قَلبي إِذ أَعلَنوا
وَقيلَand it was said أَجَدَّbecame intent الخَليطُthe company اِحتِمالاdeparture
وَقيلَ أَجَدَّ الخَليطُ اِحتِمالا
And my heart was alarmed when they made it known,
My heart shuddered when they declared,
and it was said: 'The company is intent on departure.'
And it was said the mixed throng endured.
وَحَثَّand urged بِهاwith her الحادِيانِthe two camel-drivers النَجاءَspeed
وَحَثَّ بِها الحادِيانِ النَجاءَ
مَعَat الصُبحِdawn لَمّاwhen اِستَشارواthey set in motion الجِمالاthe camels
مَعَ الصُبحِ لَمّا اِستَشاروا الجِمالا
And the two camel-drivers urged her swiftly onward,
The two suitors urged departure
at dawn, when they set the camels moving.
With the dawn when they consulted beauty.
بَوازِلَfull-grown camels تُحدىdriven by song بِأَحداجِهاwith their saddle-litters
بَوازِلَ تُحدى بِأَحداجِها
وَيُحذَينَand they are shod بَعدَafter نِعالٍshoes نِعالاshoes
وَيُحذَينَ بَعدَ نِعالٍ نِعالا
Full-grown camels, driven by song beneath their litters,
She mounts the howdah with her anklets,
and shod with one set of shoes after another.
And they walk, after sandals, with sandals.
فَلَمّاso when نَأَواthey went far away سَبَقَتrushed ahead عَبرَتيmy tears
فَلَمّا نَأَوا سَبَقَت عَبرَتي
وَأَذرَتand poured لَهاfor her بَعدَafter سَجلٍa bucketful سِجالاbucketfuls
وَأَذرَت لَها بَعدَ سَجلٍ سِجالا
So when they went far away, my tears rushed forth,
When they departed, my tears preceded
and poured for her bucketful after bucketful.
And I scattered for her, after struggle, contention.
تَراهاyou see them إِذاwhen اِحتَثَّهاurged them on الحادِياthe two camel-drivers (continued)
تَراها إِذا اِحتَثَّها الحادِيا
نِcompletes 'the two camel-drivers' بِالخَبتِon the low plain يُرقِلنَthey trot سَيراًtraveling عِجالاin haste
نِ بِالخَبتِ يُرقِلنَ سَيراً عِجالا
You see them, when the two camel-drivers urge them on,
You see them, when the suitor urges them on,
on the low plain, trotting along in haste.
Moving slowly with coyness and haste.
فَبِالظِلِّso, with shade بُدِّلنَthey were given instead بَعدَafter الهَجيرِthe midday heat
فَبِالظِلِّ بُدِّلنَ بَعدَ الهَجيرِ
وَبَعدَand after الحِجالِcurtained chambers أَلِفنَthey grew accustomed to الرِحالاcamel-saddles
وَبَعدَ الحِجالِ أَلِفنَ الرِحالا
So after the midday heat, they were given shade,
With shade they were replaced after departure,
and after curtained chambers, grew used to camel-saddles.
And after dispute, they loved the litter.
وَفيهِنَّand among them خَولَةُKhawlah زَينُthe adornment النِساwomen (continued)
وَفيهِنَّ خَولَةُ زَينُ النِسا
ءِcompletes 'women' زادَتshe surpassed عَلىbeyond الناسِthe people طُرّاًall جَمالاin beauty
ءِ زادَت عَلى الناسِ طُرّاً جَمالا
And among them is Khawlah, the adornment of women,
Among them is Khaulah, beauty of women,
who surpassed all people in beauty.
Who excelled people in grace and perfection.
لَهاshe has عَينُthe eye حَوراءَa dark-eyed antelope فيin رَوضَةٍa meadow
لَها عَينُ حَوراءَ في رَوضَةٍ
وَتَقروand she seeks out مَعَamong النَبتِthe herbage أَرطىًarta shrubs طِوالاtall
وَتَقرو مَعَ النَبتِ أَرطىً طِوالا
She has the eye of a dark-eyed antelope in a meadow,
She has the eyes of a houri in a garden,
that seeks out tall arta shrubs among the herbage.
And she walks tall with the plants.
وَتُجريand she runs السِواكَthe tooth-stick عَلىover بارِدٍcool teeth
وَتُجري السِواكَ عَلى بارِدٍ
يُخالُtaken for السَيالَsayal wood وَلَيسَand it is not السَيالاsayal wood
يُخالُ السَيالَ وَلَيسَ السَيالا
And she runs the tooth-stick over cool teeth,
She passes the toothstick over one who is cold
taken for sayal wood, although they are not sayal.
Whose drink resembles but is not drink.
كَأَنَّas though المُدامَwine بُعَيدَshortly after المَنامِsleep
كَأَنَّ المُدامَ بُعَيدَ المَنامِ
عَلَيهاupon them وَتَسقيكَand she gives you to drink عَذباًsweet زُلالاclear and pure
عَلَيها وَتَسقيكَ عَذباً زُلالا
As though wine, just after sleep,
As if the wine is far from where he sleeps,
were upon them, and she gives you sweet, clear water.
While she gives you fresh, pure drink.
كَأَنَّas though الذَوائِبَthe braids فيin فَرعِهاher hair
كَأَنَّ الذَوائِبَ في فَرعِها
حِبالٌropes تُوَصِّلُshe joins فيهاin them حِبالاropes
حِبالٌ تُوَصِّلُ فيها حِبالا
As though the braids in her hair
As if the braids in her branches
were ropes she joins with other ropes.
Are ropes connecting ropes within her.
وَوَجهٌand a face يَحارُare bewildered لَهُby it الناظِرونَthe onlookers
وَوَجهٌ يَحارُ لَهُ الناظِرونَ
يَخالونَهُمthey imagine themselves قَدalready أَهَلّواthey sighted هِلالاa crescent moon
يَخالونَهُم قَد أَهَلّوا هِلالا
And a face that bewilders those who look upon it—
A face that bewilders all who look
they imagine they have sighted a crescent moon.
Thinking the crescent has appeared to them.
إِلىalong with كَفَلٍa rump مِثلِlike دِعصِa rounded mound النَقاdune-sand
إِلى كَفَلٍ مِثلِ دِعصِ النَقا
وَكَفٍّand a hand تُقَلِّبُflexes بيضاًwhite fingers طِفالاtender
وَكَفٍّ تُقَلِّبُ بيضاً طِفالا
With a rump like a rounded mound of dune-sand,
To a cheek like the baby camel's hump
and a hand that flexes tender, white fingers.
And a hand that turns the egg of an infant.
فَبانَتso she departed وَماand not نِلتُI gained مِنof وُدِّهاher affection
فَبانَت وَما نِلتُ مِن وُدِّها
قِبالاًa sandal-thong وَلاnor ماanything that يُساويequals in worth قِبالاa sandal-thong
قِبالاً وَلا ما يُساوي قِبالا
So she departed, and I gained none of her affection—
She appeared but I got from her love
not a sandal-thong, nor anything worth a thong.
Neither union nor what equals union.
وَكَيفَand how تَبُتّينَyou sever حَبلَthe cord الصَفاpure affection (continued)
وَكَيفَ تَبُتّينَ حَبلَ الصَفا
ءِcompletes 'pure affection' مِنfrom ماجِدٍa noble man لاnot يُريدُhe desires اِعتِزالاseparation
ءِ مِن ماجِدٍ لا يُريدُ اِعتِزالا
And how can you sever the cord of pure affection
How can you mend the cord of harmony
with a noble man who desires no separation?
Of one glorious who does not want separation?
أَرادَhe sought النَوالَa favor فَمَنَّيتِهِso you raised his hopes
أَرادَ النَوالَ فَمَنَّيتِهِ
وَأَضحىand became الَّذيwhat قُلتِyou said فيهِabout it ضَلالاvain illusion
وَأَضحى الَّذي قُلتِ فيهِ ضَلالا
He sought a favor, so you raised his hopes,
He wanted union, so I wished him well,
and what you said about it proved an illusion.
And what I said became misguidance.
فَتىًa youth يَبتَنيbuilds المَجدَglory مِثلُlike الحُساthe keen sword (continued)
فَتىً يَبتَني المَجدَ مِثلُ الحُسا
مِcompletes 'the keen sword' أَخلَصَهُhe perfected it القَينُthe smith يَوماًonce صِقالاًby polishing
مِ أَخلَصَهُ القَينُ يَوماً صِقالاً
A youth who builds glory, like a keen sword
A noble the glory suits like excellence
which the smith once perfected by polishing.
Whose loyalty one day polished him.
يَقودُhe leads الكُماةَthe armored warriors لِيَلقىso he may meet الكُماةَthe armored warriors
يَقودُ الكُماةَ لِيَلقى الكُماةَ
يُنازِلُhe fights ماwhenever إِنfor emphasis أَرادواthey desire النِزالاcombat
يُنازِلُ ما إِن أَرادوا النِزالا
He leads armored warriors to meet armored warriors;
He leads the brave to meet the brave,
he fights whenever they desire combat.
Engaging whoever wants to fight.
يُشَبِّهُhe confounds فُرسانَهُمtheir horsemen فيin اللِقاءِthe clash
يُشَبِّهُ فُرسانَهُم في اللِقاءِ
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis رَحىthe millstone المَوتِof death دارَتturns حِيالاwithout grain
إِذا ما رَحى المَوتِ دارَت حِيالا
He confounds their horsemen in the clash,
He makes their horsemen in the clash
when death's millstone turns without grain.
Turn back when death's mill turns.
وَتَمشيand you advance رِجالاًon foot إِلىtoward الدارِعينَthe armored men
وَتَمشي رِجالاً إِلى الدارِعينَ
كَأَعناقِlike the necks خَورٍmilch-camels تُزجّيurge onward فِصالاweaned camel-calves
كَأَعناقِ خَورٍ تُزجّي فِصالا
And you advance on foot toward the armored men,
And walks men to the armed
like the necks of milch-camels urging their weaned calves onward.
Like the necks of khurr urging the separated.
وَتَكسوand you clothe القَواطِعَthe cutting blades هامَthe heads الرِجاmen (continued)
وَتَكسو القَواطِعَ هامَ الرِجا
لِcompletes 'men' وَتَحميand protect الفَوارِسُthe horsemen مِنّاfrom among us الرِجالاthe foot-soldiers
لِ وَتَحمي الفَوارِسُ مِنّا الرِجالا
And you clothe the cutting blades with men's heads,
And clothes the warriors, the necks of men,
and our horsemen shield the men on foot.
As the horsemen protect men.
وَيَأبىand refuses لِيَfor me الضَيمَhumiliation ماwhat قَدhas مَضىgone before
وَيَأبى لِيَ الضَيمَ ما قَد مَضى
وَعِندَand during الخِصامِdisputes فَنَعلوso we prevail جِدالاin argument
وَعِندَ الخِصامِ فَنَعلو جِدالا
And what has gone before will not let me suffer humiliation,
And the injustice of what has passed refuses me
and in disputes we prevail in argument,
And in dispute, we raise contention.
بِقَولٍwith speech يَذَلُّsubmit لَهُto it الرائِضوthe tamers (continued)
بِقَولٍ يَذَلُّ لَهُ الرائِضو
نَcompletes 'the tamers' وَيَفضُلُهُمand surpasses them إِنif أَرادواthey seek فِضالاsuperiority
نَ وَيَفضُلُهُم إِن أَرادوا فِضالا
with speech to which the tamers submit,
With words that humble the contenders
and which surpasses them if they seek superiority.
And surpass them if they want favor.
وَهاجِرَةٍand a scorching noonday كَأُوارِlike the blaze الجَحيHell (continued)
وَهاجِرَةٍ كَأُوارِ الجَحي
مِcompletes 'Hell' قَطَعتُI traversed إِذاwhen الجُندُبُthe locust الجَونُblack قالاtook its noon rest
مِ قَطَعتُ إِذا الجُندُبُ الجَونُ قالا
And a midday heat like the blaze of Hell,
An emigrant like the sands of Mahra
I crossed when the black locust took its noon rest.
When the little owl cuts through barrenness.
وَلَيلٍand a night تَعَسَّفتُI traversed blindly دَيجورَهُits pitch darkness
وَلَيلٍ تَعَسَّفتُ دَيجورَهُ
يَخافُfear بِهِin it المُدلِجونَnight travelers الخَبالاmadness
يَخافُ بِهِ المُدلِجونَ الخَبالا
And a night whose pitch darkness I blindly traversed,
And a night whose darkness I manipulated,
in which night travelers fear madness.
Feared by those who ignite the evil.
Sol 6.1